Kinolab: Film Language Tags: retrospective plot

Film Language Tag: retrospective plot

A plot that tells of past events from the perspective of the present or future. Corrigan and White, The Film Experience: An Introduction, 5^th ed.

Films
Series

20 Film Clips

A Son, Letter from an Unknown Woman

Lisa (Joan Fontaine) gives birth to a son whom she gives his father's name, Stefan (Louis Brand).

Apartment Music, Letter from an Unknown Woman

Lisa Berndle (Joan Fontaine) quietly admires Stefan (Louis Jourdan), eventually sneaking into his apartment.

Ausgang, Letter from an Unknown Woman

Lisa (Joan Fontaine) and Stefan (Louis Jourdan) go on a date, with a carriage ride, a "train ride", and dancing.

Clementine the Tangerine, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Hearing Patrick's voice during the procedure triggers Joel to relive various memories, including the first time he called Clementine "Tangerine."

Closing Sequence, Letter from an Unknown Woman

Stefan (Louis Jourdan) finishes reading Lisa's (Joan Fontaine) letter, learning that both she and their son (Leo B Pessin) have died of typhus, and decides to engage in his duel with Johann (Marcel Journet).

Eugene and Vincent, Gattaca

Vincent steals Eugene's identity to work at the Gattaca space corporation.

Hide Me Somewhere Really Buried, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Joel takes Clementine into a particularly humiliating and repressed memory from his childhood.

I'm Erasing You and I'm Happy!, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Joel confronts Clementine about erasing her during the memory of their break-up and Stan and Patrick continue their 'work.'

Linz, Letter from an Unknown Woman

In Linz, Lisa's (Joan Fontaine) parents arrange for her to meet Lt. von Kaltnegger (John Good), who proposes to her.

Nothing Left, Letter from an Unknown Woman

Lisa (Joan Fontaine) leaves her mother (Mady Christmas) at the train station to go back to the apartment and see Stefan (Louis Jourdan) once more before leaving for Linz.

Noticed, Letter from an Unknown Woman

Now working as a dress model in Vienna, Lisa (Joan Fontaine) is noticed by Stefan (Louis Jourdan)

Oh My God, Deja Vu, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Stan and Patrick begin the erasing procedure and Joel re-enters his memory of the pre-procedure doctor's appointment.

Opening Sequence, In the Heights

Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) introduces el barrio.

Opening Sequence, Letter from an Unknown Woman

Concert pianist Stefan Brand (Louis Jourdan) enlists his mute butler John (Art Smith) in helping him evade a duel, and sits down to read a letter from an unknown woman (Joan Fontaine).